Method and apparatus for feeding gaskets and for inserting them in closures



March 2, 1954 w HERRQLD' 2,670,705

' METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING GASKETS AND FOR INSERTING THEM IN CLOSURES Filed March 15, 1947 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY March 2, 1954 G. w. HERROLD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING GASKETS AND FOR INSERTING THEM IN CLOSURES 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 13, 1947 t 1? QYN HERROLD Ma'r'ch 2,1954

G. W. APPARA Sheets-Sheet 3 G U S METHOD AND INSERTING THEM Filed March 13, 1947 INVENTQR 60rd! if afraid BY 71 ATTO R N EY YIYIIII G. w. HERROLD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING GASKETS Malrch 2, 1954 AND FOR INSERTING THEM IN CLOSURES l2 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 13, 1947 w W @H 4 m WW; J

ATTORNEY OLD 2,670,705 R FEEDING GASKETS AND FOR INSERTING THEM IN CLOSURES 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 2, 1954 G. w. HERR METHOD AND APPARATUS F0 Filed March 13, 1947 INVENTOR 12' 60121011 Elle/raid BY g We RNEY w. HERROLD 2,670,705

" GQ METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING GASKETS AND FOR INSERTING THEM IN CLOSURES March 2, 1954 Filed March 15, 1947 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 ILL L i i i i l INVENTOR March 2, 1 5 G. w. HERROLD METHOD APPARATUS FOR AND INSERTING THEk Filed March 13, 1947 DING GASKETS CLOSURES l2 Sheets-Sheet 7 AORNEY March 2, 1954 G. w. HERROLD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING GASKETS AND FOR INSERTING THEM IN CLOSURES Filed March 12', 1947 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 Efl'l-HEE gig-55y INVENTOR 60/40/11. z/mkl ATTORNEY G. W. HERROLD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING GASKETS AND FOR INSERTING THEM IN CLOSURES March 2, 1954 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed March 13, 1947 INVENTOR fmrdan i 'jlerrnld ATTORNEY March 2, 1954 G. METHOD AND APP AND FOR Filed March 13, 1947 W. HERROLD ARATUS FOR FEEDING GASKETS INSERTING THEM IN CLOSURES 12 Sheets-Sheet l0 I'NVENTOR March 1954 G. w. HERROLD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING GASKETS AND FOR INSERTING THEM IN CLOSURES 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed March 15, 1947 l N V E NT 0 R d z'dan Klara/d B ATTORNEY A March 2, 1954 w HERROLD 2,670,705

G. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING GASKETS AND FOR INSERTING THEM IN CLOSURES l2 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed March 13, 1947 INVENTOR (far/Ian if'flkrrald BY Patented Mar. 2, 1954 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING GASKETS AND FOR INSERTING THEM IN CLOSURES Gordon W. Herrold, Connellsvillc, Pa., assignor to Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation, Lancaster, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application March 13, 1947, Serial No. 734,457

21 Claims. 1

The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for feeding gaskets and for inserting the gaskets in closures, and more particularly to a method and machine applicable to ring gaskets made from a rubber composition suitable for forming hermetic seals on containers.

In the manufacture of closure caps having ring gaskets therein, for example the general type shown in Patents Nos. 1,909,406 and 2,200,081, owned by the assignee hereof, the metal blank is stamped from a sheet of metal and shaped by suitable dies and rollers into the proper form. The gaskets for forming hermetic seals are usually cut from a tube of vulcanized rubber composition. These cut gaskets after being stored in boxes or barrels are then inserted into the closures. The closures are shipped with the gaskets in them and sealed to containers by suitable sealing machines.

The insertion of the gaskets into the closure blanks is a diflicult and tedious operation. The gaskets in some cases become twisted after being cut or during storage or shipment, which further complicates the operation.

The machine illustrated in the Welland Patent No. 1,776,227, owned by the assignee hereof, attempts to overcome the problems encountered, but it is not as rapid as desirable in its operations and requires excessive labor. In addition, the machine cuts or otherwise damages a substantial percentage of the gaskets in its operations. As a result, many gaskets are still inserted in closures by hand. Closures with gaskets therein are sold in large quantities. Any slight saving in the cost of a-thousand caps aggregates'large savings over a period of a year.

The present invention relates to a method and machine for feeding gaskets and inserting them in closures. The invention minimizes or over comes prior difiiculties, operates at a high speed without damaging either the gasket or the closure, and operates with a minimum of labor and supervision, thereby reducing the cost of the finished articles. The gaskets are forcefully retained in their true shape prior to feeding, are securely seated on an inserting tool and positively retained in their proper shape, and finally inserted into the closure by a positive operation which forces the gasket against the flange of the closure throughout its periphery. The shape of the gasket is preserved both prior to feeding and at the time of insertion, and mutilation is eliminated or minimized.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and machine for feeding gaskets.

. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method and machine forinserting gaskets into closures.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method and machine for feeding gaskets and for inserting the gaskets into closures.

Another object of the invention is to increase the speed at which gaskets may be fed for insertion into closures and to increase the speed of inserting the gaskets in the closures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and machine which operates continuously, thereby eliminating the intermittent motion necessary in the operation of prior machines.

Another object of the invention is to minimize the mutilation of gaskets in feeding and inserting them into closures.

Another object of the invention is to minimize the labor and supervision required in the feeding of gaskets and insertion of them into closures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple machine which may be constructed of a minimum number of parts which are not likely to require excessive repairs.

Another object of the invention is automatically to control the feeding of the gaskets responsive to the speed of insertion.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings'forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment'of the machine, which also illustrates one way of performing the method without the crimping mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a schematic top plan view illustrating the location of various parts of the machine and the stations for the different operations;

Fig. 2A is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a cap receiver for inverting the closures to facilitate inspection thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, one-half in section, illustrating parts of the machine, including a crimping mechanism for crimping the lower edge of the closure into locking engagement with the gasket;

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view through a gasket-inserting mechanism at one stage of the inserting operation;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the position of the parts after a gasket has been fully'ihsented-andzlocked position by 11.? the inturned-edgeof a closure cap? Fig. 6 is a, sectional view illustrating the position of the closure cap and gasket holders as a closure cap is fed to a closure cap holder;:.--.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figrfifillustrati-ngz-theAu position of the parts as a gasket is fed to the gasket holder;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view illustrating-the posi-r tion of the parts as the gasket is completelyir Seated;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the closurezcap andgasket holders with the elements moved towardv each other for insertion of agasket;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view with the closure cap and= --gasket=holders :moved togetherr: svith:.--:the1 2i) gasket'within'the-closureg s Fig. 11 illustrates the closure capzholderimovingzau; upwardly iwith' the i assembled aclosureccapziand. gasket -toa position for removal' of. thB'l'CEpZfBOm the holder FigS'12 isa'n' enlargedzsectionaltstiewshowing the: position-of the partssandzthe' deta'ilsof the fopera-r: r; tion of insertingi-thegasket HtOEthG'iGlOSllIE;

Fig. 12A shows a=form1oitwiirrclosureiholdeizpaz:

FigT- IB is 8/2? horizontal SEGI-lOIlGilTiViSW'f-Of the. mechanism: for 'removingta closuraavitha igasket: assembledin it; from the machine Figrhi is avertical:sectionahview of theclosurere :1 removing amech anism: siliustratingwawclosure: being. remo ved'afrom' aeholdergx Fig. 14A is an enlarged fragmentar-yiwiew illussza tratingizdetails azof a. modified ifbl'minf *closureis. a; sectionaltviewritlustrating the-'remoral-f. gasketsgnnezata timeg-fromiairchutegzza in Figir'lfi is" aaview'; partiallyiiin section; of the gasketefeedingemeohanisnrsillustrating additional: 5: features;

Figszrfi is. a:fragmentary;vieweiliustrating: the apertureiinthe'frotatingidisc towhichithe gaskets are fed, the aperture registeringamith thewaper, tureiin the:stationmaplatezheneatlrtit. andzalsoa showing the gasketiguidee holdergna:

Fig: '18 is e:.fr.agmentar :top :plan.-: iew:-i1-luse-;;:- trating:c1osure .capaieedingemeansciori delivering closureicapsto themachine; i;:;.

Fig. 19. isa siderelevationalwievtzof the mecha" nism shown in Fig. 18, showing .thexdeliveryrof: closure :camtovits seat;;::;

Fig;- 20 is a e perspective-zviewrillustraztinginthe"a automarticsfeedfl-for:gasketsrwhereby gaskets 'iai separatedifromi each Qthfiliifilld? fedtienetat arti-me: into a chute leading to the gasket feed at them; serting machineizz;

Figr-Zl asfragmentaryitopuplanzviewillustrat s-.60 ing ieaturesuof the mechanism shownrin F1812 Fig..-, 2*2 is: aisectionalrviewialong.the linej 2-22--1. of Bligh-2.1 illustrating..the.. mechanism..for moving gaskets .alongaspindle ;l

Fig. 23 is. a...fragmentary.-sectional-aview .=illus=..65 tratingthei'end of theffchute.movedyout-of. rege istr'y.. with thespindle .or rod. supporting. the gaskets in order to permit the substitutioniof an other spindle;

FigIZfl isa side elevational view, partly. in section, of the.mechanismshown in Figf23 illustratingndditidiial-features;

Fig. 25 a front viewof thechute for 'thet. gaskets illustrating electric eyesor.pl'iotoeelectrizir, devices" for regulating the feeding "of thegaskets to the chute responsively to the quantity therein;

Fig. 26 is a diagrammatic top plan view illustrating compressed air connection to the several aircylindersg' and 1.

Fig??? asideelevation'al fies/illustrating the loading of a series of gaskets onto a. spindle of the automatic gasket feed.

For.-convenience.in describing the operation of the:variousapartslof the machine and the construction'zthereof the description will be subdivided under the following headings: (1) Genera-l =Deseription; 2)-"Structure and Drive; (3) CapT Feed'r"MY-Gasket Feed; (5) Gasket Insertionytfi) ClosureRemoval; ('7) Automatic Gasket Feedgandsfiti) Qpera-tion.

General description The purpose of the present invention is to automatically .-f, eed- .g-askets andeto insert .them into .elosuresie-slhe:te1ms1fclosure .and cap are-.11: usedinterchangeablyiherein to referio the metal 3 a s part-.-thereof. with or without-a gasketrthereinew Preferred-typeset closures areiilustrated in pat entsfl-numbered. l,909,406.-and -.2-,200,-08l.=-= .-.The= metalclosure- Gillustrated in Fig.- .5 has a.-.cover -15 and adepending flange: 2 .witha head: 3 atits lower part The lower 'edgeaB in this -;embodiment isshown-..turneda upwardly into locking .engagementw. withthegasketto hold-thegasket in the'closureh In some ..cases the lockingsoperationamayvbe omittedfland thegasket permitted-to be held in position .by. an inturned.horizontalshelL-as illusmtratedin RatentNo.1309,4505... lIhepresent -mamchine.and.methodareadanted to insert-gaskets intoclosures oieither type.

Theseveral. .operationsein. theinsertiom of. the gasketinto the closure may he observed .in Eligs;. 6 to 11. Firstathe closure 6...-is fed-$0. a-holder I 6). Z Threafterla gasket-.8 (Fig.3) :iS dropped ..over -.a.- projecting... momma-.9. of the... gasketeinsertingmechanismllfl. ...The..'gasket-.is. drawn down by gravity and-.by .a vacuummntilam it is forcefnllyseated as shownjn Fig; 8, wheres upontheproj ecting member .9-is perrnitted to drop 1 v by a, cam...l 2 .(Fig;.'. 9 Simultaneously the.cap..-.. holder-ills" permitted..to move; downwardby 1a suitablecam .34 (Fig. 13) so thatthe cap holderw dropsover. the 'gasketinserting .means, as shown... in FigI'lO. The jvacunm .loecomesv eff-ectiveon the cap andholdsyitfirifilymn its seata .In doingso, the gasket isiorced. through arestricted contour. l4 intothelc-losurecap. ;.;Iheiflange.at. the lower edge'lof thelclosure .holdsthe. gasket in position so that the closure holder and th'e gasketinserting. a means maybe separated as illustrated in. FigIILl.

While..the1caps:may.be placed position on the holders. 1;. and. the igasketsaboiit .the members i.

'9 b'y'hand,..iii the preferred embodimentthe. clog.

sures. are automatically j fed from. aachut'e to. the I. holders .9. as they ,pass undenlthechute. on .thel... machine-as illustrated more. particularly at stag. tioniA of. Fig. '2;,and.in.Figs21 18. .and 19. Likewise the gaskets are preferably fedf'at'station B. of'Fig. 2 bythei'mechanism'. shown in Figs. 1 5 to 1'7. 5A pinwheelpli .pu11s..; gaskets :.from the' chute. and; drops .themtinto; recesses 16 of a rotating..disc-. 43, which moves the gaskets aroundv into registry'- withlthegasket,receiver 9 at whichlan aperture. l6 in the rotating disc registers with an aperture in a stationary plate! so thatthegasket falls L; through onto the'receiver 91' The present invention goes further'and .c'onftemplates theautomatic separation of the gaskets onebytm-e from agroup of gaskets and automatL-i' cally maintaining a supply thereof in a suitable chute. The mechanism for achieving this objective is illustrated more particularly in Figs. to 27. The gaskets are placed side by side on a series of spindles or rods l9, one of which registers with a chute 20. Suitable means are utilized for forcing the gaskets off the end of the bottom rod to drop in the chute one at a time. The rate of feed of the gaskets by the automatic mechanism is controlled by photo-electric devices or electric eyes 22 and 24.

These several mechanisms will be described in greater detail, and likewise their operation will be described more fully, hereinafter.

Structure and drive mechanisms l0 and also the closure heads or holders 1, which are mounted on pairs of vertical rods 31 by slidable sleeves 32. A stationary cam 34 (Fig. 3) fixed to the center of the machine raises and lowers the sleeves 32 on the rods 31 and with them the cap holders 1. An anvil member 35 is also movably mounted on the rods 31 by means of sleeves 36 and is moved up and down. by a cam 31. A cam roller 38 is adapted to be engaged by a member 39 (Fig. 3) to create a bumping action which turns in the lower edge of the closure, as shown in Fig. 5, to lock the gasket in position. Where this locking action is not desired, the lower edge of the cap is rolled inwardly into a horizontal flange before it is fed to the machine, and the anvil member 35 and its associated parts are omitted from the machine or fixed in their upper, inoperative positions.

The sun gear 29 drives a gasket-feeding disc 43 for the gasket feed through the intermediation of gear 4'0, shaft 4| sprocket 42, sprocket chain 44, sprocket 45, and shaft 46. A gear on shaft 46 drives the pinwheel l5 through the intermediation (Fig. 16) of gear 41, shaft 48, bevel gear 49, bevel gear 50, shaft El and gear 52 thereon meshing with gear 515 on the shaft of the pinwheel.

In some instances, generally with closure caps of relatively small diameters, it may be desired to utilize a twin or double closure holder, and in Fig. 12A there is illustrated such a construction 1'. This construction is similar to the closure holders I but two caps instead of one cap may be carried up and down by the twin head for insertion of gaskets. Twin gasket insertion members will also be used to insert two gaskets simultaneously into the two closures carried by the double head E'.

C'ap feed The preferred embodiment of means for feeding the closures to the machine is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 18 and 19. Before discussing this mechanism, it is to be noted (Fig. 1) that the members 1 which constitute the closure holders have arms or brackets 55 bolted to each side. The ends of these arms abut the ends of adjoining arms and form a smooth surface when the members I are in horizontal alignment, as shown in Fig. 1. These members are in horizontal alignment in their upper cap-receiving position and by a pin 76 in the pinwheel I5.

present a smooth surface as they pass under the cap feed.

The caps may be fed to a chute 56, inclined sufficiently so that they will slide down the chute by gravity. The lowermost cap in the chute slides down until its front end engages the inwardly projecting parts 5! of fingers 58 pivoted on the vertical pins or shafts 59. These pins are held in their inner positions by means of a tension spring 88 fitting about posts Bl. The fingers 58 resiliently retain the cap against further movement, as shown more particularly in Fig. 18, so that the edge rides on the upper surface of the members until the rear part is caught by the side of the opening in the cap holder 1, as shown in Fig. 19, whereupon the cap is forced forward. The for-- ward end is prevented from moving upwardly by a spring 52 and hence forces the fingers 58 outwardly. The cap is also forced downwardly by the spring 62 and by a pressure roller 64 so that the cap is seated firmly in its seat just above the restricted surface M. The spring 62 is mounted on a member 65 held in position by bolts 66 fitting in suitable slots so that the spring may be adjusted to secure the best operation. Likewise the wheel or pressure roller 64- is mounted on the end of an arm 6? in slots 8 so that it may be adjusted for .best results. The arm 61 has a stub shaft (59 on its end fitting into a bearing H! and held in position by a set screw H. The bearing TB is mounted on a sleeve 12 carried by a vertical rod 14. Thus caps are fed consecutively to the cap heads or holders 1 and forced firmly down onto th seats therein.

Gasket feed The device for feeding gaskets, which is described separately herein from the automatic gasket feed, is shown more particularly in Figs. 2, 15 and 1.7. The gaskets are fed to a substantially vertical chute 20 either by hand or by the automatic gasket feed. Stops 18 on opposite sides of the lower end of th vertical part of the chute hold the bottom gasket in position to be engaged The gasket is pulled between the stops [8, carried along the rcuate portion of the chute and then pulled out of the chute between pins l7 mounted at the end of the chute. Each gasket is dropped into a recess l6 of a rotating disc 43 on shaft 45;.

Preferably the recess is elongated, as shown in Fig. 2, so that exact registry is not necessary. The gasket is dropped into the enlarged portion at the forward end of the recess, and as the'disc rotates th gasket slides back on the supporting member Hi to the rear of the recess. As the rotating disc moves further around, the projecting member 9 (Fig. 1), forming a part of the gasketinserting mechanism Iii, registers with an aperture in the supporting plate 18 at the same time that the aperture I6 in the rotating disc registers with it; hence the gasket is dropped onto the member 9, as shown more particularly in Fig. 7.

The rotating disc 43 is mounted on the vertical shaft 46 and is driven from the sun gear 29 (Fig. l) by means of the gear 45!, sprocket 42, sprocket chain 44, sprocket 45, shaft 48, and the apertures 15 therein are synchronized with both the pins 16 on the pinwheel and the gasket-receiving member 9 forming a part of the gasket-inserting means.

The pinwheel 15 may be driven from the shaft 45 by means of gear 54 on the pinwheel shaft, gear 52 on shaft EH, bevel gear 58, bevel gear 49 on shaft 48 and gear 4? meshing with gear 33.

Thnsrthezgasketeare feddromthelehuteltolthe recesses 16 in the rotating disc 43. When: ,the-:.l-.;- rotatiingldisclfl meshes with theqdelirery-laperture in the! supnqrting plate; a! 8, one; of lthelmembers 9 of the gasketeinsertingamechanism is belowhthehfi pe iturelandtthagasket.falls \throughronto; oneoithe,members;-9

Thegautomatic. gasket feed for feeding! askets to the vohutehwill be described-hereinafter.

Gasket insertion- 8 y end-thereof -is in aapositloneto receivela -gasket gh and guide ithdown intoltheseat lflnia'lhe-memberhhz- I 06 also: moves npward-ly-lwithvit a cylindrical h: member 93, which; slides. abouththe-.-members-95 s carrying with .it members-:91. -.'Which engage andw. raise .the sleeved!!! until the-hupper. end thereof is substantially. flush. :With 1 the gasket; seat .100.- Preferablythe ,toplotthehcama IE8 is such lthatmi' thelupper ends of, the-springfingers are substanem tially flush with the inwardlyitaperedsorfaceflat .m the upper end ofthe memben 90, thelgasket being in effect supported .on three sides To lfacilitatewl seating of the gasket,-lthe.gea-r.-;101"engages thea: segmental gear 09 (Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8) so that the guide 9 is rotated. T-o further secure accurate seating of the gasket and.the removal of irreguec larities'; if any; thereimtthe space within the, holder 90 is. subjected to a vacuum by means of the conduit H operatively connected to a rubber hose H|(Fig.' 3 which is connected in turn T throughthe frame of the machine to a pipe 1 I2 "5. leading to a suitable; sourcetlof vacuum. It will be understood, ;of course, that 'the fit between the'rodlfl2 and the central bore I04, an-dthe fit mam-be utilizedfor the mounting, here shown-as boltse'l! in thelflangewSiMsThuS the-member 7 maybe raised and lowered .by the cam(34.w. A cye lindr-ical apertureifil in the headreceives a bush-.-

ingh82 with ,a .lowerinternal cylindrical v-portion leadi-rishto the constrictediportion .14 (Fig, .12)

wh-ichpreferably comprisesan inclined portion 8 leadinglto :a substantially cylindrical portion 85 which in turn,- is surrounded by an .inwardlyinclined portion 85 having a flat-upper surface 81 adapted to seat the lower edge of the closure. The inner bushing 82 i'smadeof a metal which mambo machinedandfliuhichwill resistwear. 1,

The; gasket holders are, shown in- Figs-,1 6 and 12 in Position directly under. the heads 1'. :The pres ferred embodimentil-lustrates an outer-sleeve portion efl, Whose; lower positionlis fixed by member 943m Members,-,.9l,. which :7 are adapted-to passe-1 through suitable-slots in the-member 9.4 may..- movewupwardlylwith respect to the table andmovet thezsleevetil upwardlyt The members: 9! are-.-;:

secured to a collan 91 force-fittedzabout a cylin -w drical member: 93 Which-ismoved vertically by;

cam-11108 rto' raiselandilower the sleeve 'efi, l 7 :1

An innergmembe-raQi extends Within the sleeve and is fiXedi-to; the. member? resting jOll the table h-The upper-endmf the-memhe1'-- 95 is; re

ducedlat 98 and threaded :to, receive anrinteriorly threaded-;-member99. s 'I'he member 98 is adapted: to seatithe gasket at 1130. iPreferablythe morn:

(Fig...- 12) ofisetat their uppersends to formathew seatelflflh T- Ihese, individual lfingersrare rpreferablyy; made-20f Spring steeland. are spaced asufficiently- :j

far apart; about one; thirty-second of 7 an inch in the preferred; embodiment, to collapse inwardly sufficiently topermitthergasketto be constricted a thereon=;- during the inserting operation. They outer-Position ofv the..fingersmay,.-belimited to somelextent by the. {outer sleeve-90, butthey are: preferably constructed to retain, withoutexternal supportlthe properlmaximurn sizev Preferably alsomthelfingers: l0! areformed integrally with lthe member .99. r

A gasket guide 9 is mountedon a rod 102' extendingthrough a central bore I 114 in the meme her 95. The'lower end of the rod N12 is bolted,

to acam rider I06 which hasagearifl! forming a partlot it; whenthe fmemher I06 enga s a cam H18, the rod [Q2 isrmo'ved upwardlyw as shown in Figs: 11 and the; thatthe guide ,9 en the upper,

position. .When the cap head -drops over the V l inserting device, the vacuum.tends to hold the" cap securely in position. Thus the gasket is positively held during the msertingoperation. and

any irregularities in .the.gasket due to storage or other; conditions willnot interferewith proper assembly of the gasket in the'closure.

In operation, startingwith the jposition'shown in Fig.6, where the.cap hasalready been placed on its seat in the holder], thecap holder anal:

gasket holder are .each separated a. 4 substantial extent. ..In'moving from thelposition' shown in Fig. 6 to. that'shown in Fh'g."7, the cam rider, L06. ridesup on thecam J08 to raise the rod I02 and guide member Eat theiupper end thereof .to the position shown 'in Fig. .11. In this, position vthe domed surface on the guide member Bleeds down to theseat I00 'for the gasket. Simultaneously thesleeve 90 is moved ups-by themembersx93. and 9|. "At this point the gasket is dropped over. their. domed guided! eitherhby handor preferablylby l dins means described hereinbefore...- The ..l.

vacuum through the conduitnl jfl isiefiectivezand tends to draw the gasketldown on its seat. Like; wise the gear, rack N39 is efiective on gear .IOLt'o rotate the guide member 9; which .further aidsin centering and moving the'gasket toward lthe seat. When'the parts reach, thehposition shownin v Fig.1'8, thelgasket has been seated .andis held in position by vacuum. The cam rider J06 iS:mOV.-: ing along thehorizontal portion of theecain 108.; At this point the cap holder 1 begins to move downwardly on the inclined portion of the cam 34. .The cam ridenlflfi approachestheend of the cam I08 andlpermits .thedomedguidefl to drop to the position shown-in Fig. 9. Thecap holders:- continues to moveldownwardlyrand reaches the...

position shown in Fig.'l0. The. positionshown. l

in Fig. 12 is just prior to that shown in Fig. 1 .0 and illustrates thegasket being inserted past-the ,l flange of the lower edgeoi the cap. vAs thegasketh.

moves past. the constrictedportionw I4 it is cone strictedinwardlywand its innencperiphery con-la: stricts the. fingers Jill inwardly. ;'I'hus the gasketh-;

at all times is being forced outwardly by the resilient fingers and when it passes the upper part of the constricted portion I4 it is expanded outwardly into the skirt of the cap. The pressure applied to the inner periphery of the gasket by the spring fingers IIlI forces the gasket firmly in position and assures the elimination of any irregularities and a secure seal when the closure is applied to a container. The head I then moves upwardly with the assembled closure and gasket to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11.

The above operations produce a closure in which the gasket is held by an inturned edge at the bottom of the closure, as shown in Fig. 12. The embodiment in Fig. 1 is adapted to perform the above operations. In some cases it is desirable that the gasket be locked in position so that regardless of the rough handling to which it may be subjected it will not come out of the closure. In addition, there is some tendency for the gasket, when forced on a closure, to twist around. The locking of the gasket in position resists this tendency and also protects the raw edge of the metal against rusting. Where the gasket is to be locked in position, it is not essential that the lower edge of the cap be turned into a complete flange, although it may be so formed if desired. A slight coaxing of the lower edge is usually desirable in order to facilitate turning the edge inwardly, but a complete flange is not necessary.

The locking operation is shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5. The parts are the same as illustrated in Figs. 6 to 12, but pressure is applied to a member 35 which fits down over the closure, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The movement of the member 35 is controlled by the cam 3! so that it moves down on the head I which holds the closure. After the gasket has been inserted within the closure, the cam roller 38 on the upper part of the member 35 goes under an anvil 39 (Fig. 3, right side) which forces the parts down by a sort of bumping action which turns inwardly the lower edge of the closure and in doing so embeds the edge in the lower side of the gasket, as shown more particularly in Fig. 5, to lock the gasket in position. To facilitate the inward bending of the edge, it is desirable that an annular groove be formed on the upper shelf of the restricted surface M which will assist in coaxing and guiding the edge of the closure inwardly, as shown in Fig. 5.

Closure removal The closures, after the gaskets are assembled in them, continue to move about the machine and also to move upwardly as shown in Fig. 11 until the closure-holding members are in their upper position, retained thereat by the horizontal portion of the cam 34. This upper position may be noted at the upper right side of Fig. 1 and also at the upper left side of Fig. 1 where one of the arms of the closure-removing device is shown.

While any suitable device may be utilized for the purpose, a preferred embodiment is illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14, and the position of the device is shown in Fig. 2. Thepurpose of the device is to raise the closures from the seats in the heads I and transfer them to a conveyor II4.- The cap-removing device is indicated generally at I I5 and may comprise a. stationary central shaft H6 with a rotating driving sleeve H3 having a head III thereon. A plurality of arms I I8 are threaded into the rotatable head and are provided 'at their opposite ends with an elbow H9 having a head or cup-shaped supporter I20 threaded to its lower end. The head may comprise a cup-shaped member with an inturned flange at its lower edge housing a cup-shaped rubber member I2I. The lower lip of the cupshaped member is adapted to contact the cover part of the closure cap when a vacuum is applied to it. In Fig. 14 the closure is shown drawn up against the cup-shaped member just after it has registered with a closure in a head I.

In order to apply a vacuum to the arms as they register with the closures in the moving heads 1, the upper end of the shaft H6 has a vacuum conduit I22 threaded thereto. The conduit extends down as shown at I24 to a port I25 (Fig. 13) in the vacuum control bushing I23. When the cup IZI registers with the closure, the

arm II8 has registered with the beginning of the' port I25 and continues to register with the port until the head I2l is over one side of the inverter I26 which in turn is over the conveyor I M. The

cap inverter I26 is shown more particularly in Fig. 2A. The cap 6 is dropped on the left side I26a of the inverter and slides onto the opposite side I261) by which it is inverted and delivered through the opening I26d onto the conveyor H4 bottom-side up, which facilitates inspection.

The cap-removing device H5 is shown with four arms and rotates continuously, but additional arms may be utilized if desired.

In order to raise the closure out of its seat in the head I, it is necessary that the cup I2! be a slight distance above the closure and above the upper end of the head I. A slightly greater vacuum is necessary in order to pull the cap up this distance. In operation the construction illustrated in Fig. 14 has proven satisfactory. In the event that a cap with a taller skirt or one made of heavier metal renders the cup I2I less effective, a modification shown in Fig. 14A may be utilized. In the modification, a cup-shaped member I2! is telescoped over the cup supporter I20 with a second cup-shaped member I28 made of rubber supported within it. The member I2! is free to rise and may be of sufi'icient length to scrape the upper end of the member I when it registers with the closure. The atmospheric air below the closure with a vacuum above it will raise the closure into contact with the cupshaped member I2I. The member I28 will, of course, have a diameter slightly greater than the closure and slightly greater than the opening in the member I.

The closure-removing device will pick up the respective closures as they are presented by the machine and drop them into the inverting device leading to the conveyor. The closures will be received in inverted position on the conveyor and may be readily inspected. The conveyor may deliver the closure to a suitable carton or to a suitable stacking device.

Automatic gasket feed The automatic gasket feed is illustrated more particularly in Figs. 20 to 27. As described hereinabove, the gaskets may be fed to the machine by hand or they may be fed to the chute leading to the pinwheel by hand. The preferred embodiment contemplates the use of an automatic feed for delivering gaskets one at a time to the vertical chute leading to the machine and to control the feed so that the gaskets will be delivered to the chute at a rate corresponding to the use of gaskets by the machine.

The general structure of the automatic gasket feed is illustrated more particularly in Fig. 20

- "tric eye.

11 where .an automatic feeding device is mounted upon a frame I2 9. A rotatable disc I3Bis provided with a plurality of spindles I9 thereon. The disc may be rotated about a center mounting so that the lower spindle registers with the upper end of the chute 20. The disc I is shown resiliently held in this position by means of apin 1,3, resiliently mounted ona bracket J32 to press against the disc I 730 and .to engage depressions therein resiliently holding the disc in position where one of its spindles I9 registers with the top of the chute 2-0. The spindles is have a series of grooves and ribs I34 extending longitndinally of the surface thereof. These grooves .and ribs facilitate the application pf gaskets to the spindles and the removal of them from the spindles.

-01 they may .be removed from one to 51118 other inany other suitable way. If desired, the gaskets may be stored on .tubes of suitable .diameter and removed from the tubes onto .thespindles .5 9.

In order-to ife'ed .the igaskets from a spindle into the verticalzchuteizfl, thegaskets are forced by meanspfa sleeve 35! mounted at one endpi ;a .spin-dle I-B so that :they :drop on? .one :at .a :time into the'c'hute. Each spindle 5159 has .a sleeve .13? thereon. "The preferred embodiment of the invention provides means foriautoma-tically moving asleeve .I 31 at a proper speed todeliver thegas- :hets-at-theproperrate.

The mechanism utilized for this purpose may comprise a carriage 139 mounted .on .a rod 1. 38. The carriage has across member will which engages back of "the sleeve 1'3! ion :thespindle registering with the 'c-hute, as shown-more particularly in Fig. 20. This cross member 4-40 also has :a threaded part in-the for-m of the insideiof a half cylinder which iits =on the threaded driving shaft M2. As the threaded driving shaft :1'42 is rotated in the proper "direction, 'the carriage 439 *and cross member I80 are moved :and .in :turn move the sleeve I31 to Ifor'ce the gaskets along the spindle I9, causing them to drop off one a'ta time into :the chute 28. -A motor IM, through -the intermediation of a suitable reduction igear mechanism do, is uperativelyconnected todrive I thethreadedshaft l 42.

Preferably the motor has two speeds, one slightly greater than'that required to feedgashets 'to"tl-ie inserting machine and the other slightly less than the rate required to feed-gaskets to the inserting machine. The speed iof the motor is controlled byapair of photo-electric devices or el'ectricgeyes22 and FigPZS). The-upper electric eye shifts the motor to its-slower-speed-when the gaskets reach the "level of it, and the lower electric eye 24 changes the motor to its higher speed whenth'e gaskets are below the lower elec- In this way the supply if gaskets -'is maintained at a level intermediate the levels of the two electric eyes. If the gasket inserting mechanism "is stopped for any reason, :the motor is also stopped. Thism'aylb'e,doneb'yaseparate push button or automatically Jwhen the gasket- ,inserting machine is stopped.

The sleeve or carriage I39 has a counterweight gvopos I2 M5 and :also an arm M5 thereon. When the sleeve I39 reaches theend of its travel and has removed the gaskets from one of the spindles 19, it can be moved .to .the left by raising the cross member I40 either by the arm I46 .or thecounterweight IE5 and shifting the sleeve 139 to the opposite end. This, however, would be a somewhat cumbersome operation for the operator and would slow down the operation of th machine. The preferred embodiment provides automatic means for shifting the carriage I39 to the'left on its return movement. This is achieved by means of a sprocket chain I4? mounted on sprockets i 58 and having a plurality of upright members or lugs Ida. When the counterweight is moved over so that the arm I56 drops onto the chain It], the cross arm I5!) is raised out of engagement with the threaded drive shaft I42 and the arm J46 rests upon the chain and is moved to the left by engagement with a lug I 19. In order to raise the cross arm Ida and cause the arm I46 to drop onto the chain I47, an air cylinder I58 is provided having a pin iii adapted to move out and push the arm of the counterweight I45 over its dead center so that it will fall until stopped by the engagement of the arm I45 with the-chain I131. The air cylinder 1.50 is operated by an airline I52 (Fig. 26) connectedwith an air valve 15.4 and having a branch line 152a leading to one side of the cylinder 15s. The air valve I5 1 has a piston within it anda pressure line 1,55 leading to it.. When the piston is moved in one direction, the air line 1-55 ;is connected to the air line I52 leaving the air valve, and when moved in the opposite direction the pressure line is connectedto the airlines I56and I 5-! The-air valve I54 likewise connects the pipe I56 to atmosphere throughpipe {55o when moved in one direction and the pipe 152 to atmosphere through pipe I520 when moved in the opposite direction. The pipes I52cand156c may balconnectedto-asuitable exhaust instead of to atmosphere, ifidesired.

When the sleeve I33 reaches the right end of its travel, it engages a trip 159 (Fig. 20) which directs air through pipe 45% into one end of the air valve 154, shifting the valve therein to the right anddirectingair from the :pressure -,line 455 through the pipe 1:52 .and branch 152a, causing the pin I51 to shift the counterweight over and cause the arm I46 to rest on the chain I41. Simultaneously-air is directed through the branch i521) into the cylinder 1151 .to shift the upper .end of .the .c'hutelii out of registry with the spindle I9, which .willbe described in more detaillat'er. This .enables the operator to rotate thetlisc 1,30

until another spindle is line with the chute ,20.

Meanwhile the chain 141 is carrying the sleeve I39 backto its initial position. When ,it reaches its initial position, the sleeve engages .another trip valve .162 which forces pressure through ,the pipe I64 leading to the opposite end of the pontrol valve I54 whereupon the valve therein is shifted to .the lcft,-.cutting-off the pressure from the pipe -I 52, opening these pipes to "atmosphere, and connecting ithe pressure line 4155 with the pressure line 156. .l?he pressure line 156 has a branch line I561; whichreonnects with .the cylinder 1.50 andmeturns the pin 'I 5I to its :retracted position. The airline I 5,6-also,has;a branch line 1 56b leading ,to theicylinder .I 6.1 which :fOlCCS the ,piston therein to the opposite sidemoving .theupper end. of vthelchute .into registry with -th e .chute Q20 .and .into position .to ,receive {the gaskets about to be forced off a spindle I9.

The operator may return the cross member I40 to its efiective position, or if desired a device similar to the cylinder I58 may be provided and connected to the branch pipe I56 for returning it to its proper position. Likewise a suitable cam or incline may be provided for engaging the arm I46 for raising it sufiiciently to permit the counterweight I l to carry the cross arm I to its position. In the use of a cam the lugs I49 should be high enough so that the arm will not disengage these lugs until after the counterweight I has passed dead center in returning the cross arm I40 to its effective position.

The chain I4'I may be driven in any suitable manner, for example by a separate electric motor I connected to it through a reduction gear IE8.

As the gaskets drop ofi the end of a spindle I9, they must find their way into the chute 20. Thus the chute has to be in registry with the end of the spindle and at the same time the spindle has a to be free to move when it has been emptied and is to be replaced by another. In order to achieve this result, the upper end of the chute 20 has a portion 26a (Fig. 23) which is movable into and out of registry with the end of a spindle I9. This construction is shown more particularly in Figs. 23 and 2 1. The movable portion of the chute 20a is mounted on a pair of pins or rods I68 which pass through bearings I69 and are held by springs I'Ill so that the chute 20a is out of operative position with respect to the end of a spindle. An air cylinder I6I is mounted intermediate the two pins I68 and connected to the chute part 20a through its piston rod. When the sleeve I39 reaches the right end of its travel and operates tinues to pass through the line until the gaskets are fed from the particular spindle in registry with the chute. When the sleeve I39 is returned to its initial position, it operates a trip valve I 62 which operates the control valve I54 to send air to the opposite end of the cylinder NH.

The springs I keep the upper part of the chute 20a normally out of registry with the spindles III. In this way, if the air fails for any reason, and someone attempts to rotate the disc I39, no damage will be done to the parts.

Preferably the upper end of the chute has an L-shaped portion at its top. As shown more particularly in Figs. 21 and 25, the gaskets drop off the spindle into the overhanging portion III, and the inclined surface I! la permits the gasket to roll down into the chute proper. To facilitate this operation, an air jet is provided at I72 and another at I13 (Fig. 24) at substantially right angles to each other. Likewise additional air jets I'M, I and I76 are provided to be effective on the gaskets as they move down the chute.

As pointed out above, the speed of the motor driving the pusher I 31 for the gaskets is controlled by the electric eyes 22 and'24 to maintain the level of the gaskets in the chute intermediate the level of the two electric eyes.

Operation In the operation of the machine, a motor 25, through a reduction gear 21, shaft 25, gear 28, and sun gear 29, drives a table 30 about a central mounting, as shown more particularly in Fig. 1. The gasket-inserting mechanisms I 0, including the cap heads or holders 1, are mounted on the table and rotate together thereon. The gasketinserting mechanisms are mounted directly on the table, and the cap heads 'I are mounted on sleeves 32 which in turn are vertically slidable on shafts 3| secured to the table. The cap heads have side extensions 55, the ends of which substantially abut to provide a continuous runway or track when the heads are in horizontal alignment. The sleeves 32 and the head I are moved up and down by means of a cam 34, shown in Fig. 2. Where it is desired to crimp the lower edge of the closure inwardly, as shown in Fig. 5, a crimping member or anvil 35 is mounted on sleeves 3t, likewise slidable on the vertical rods 3|, for engaging the closure, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, to crimp the lower edge of it inwardly into locking engagement with the gasket.

The several operations are shown generally in Fig. 2, together with the stations at which they occur. The feeding of caps to the heads 1 occurs at station A. The feeding of gaskets to the gasket-inserting mechanisms I0 occurs at station E, the mechanism being driven from the sun gear 29. The inserting of the gaskets into the closures occurs during the continued rotation of the table. The caps are removed at station 0' by the removing device H5 and are dropped into an inverter I28 which turns the caps over in their passage to a conveyor II 4. I

The feeding of the closures is illustrated more particularly in Figs. 18 and 19. Closures are fed to a suitable chute 56 inclined to the horizontal so that the closures slide, one behind another, down the chute. The cap heads I, in horizontal alignment, pass under the lower end of the chute, as shown in Fig. 19. The cap at the bottom of the chute drops into the seat in the cap head, as shown in Fig. 19, resting on the upper side of the constricted portion I4. The forward side of the cap is resiliently retained against forward move ment by the spring fingers 58 held in their retracted position by a spring 55, as shown in Fig. 18. Continued movement of the cap head, when the closure is in the position shown in Fig. 19, causes the forward part of the closure to force open the pivoted fingers 58 so that the cap is released. The forward side of the cap is held down by a spring 52 and the cap is securely pressed into its fully seated position by the wheel or roller 64, as shown in Fig. 6. Both the wheel 64 and the spring 52 are adjustable in position to obtain the best results.

The feeding of gaskets to the gasket-inserting mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16, the automatic gasket feed for delivering the gaskets to this feeding mechanism being shown in Figs. 20 to 27, which will be described later. The gaskets are dropped down a chute 29, one behind another in on-edge relationship. At the bottom of the vertical chute, the lower gasket engages stops I8 on opposite sides which hold the gasket in position until engaged by the pin It of a pinwheel I5, as shown in Fig. 15. The lower gasket and successive gaskets are then pulled through the stops '15 down through the arcuate portion of the chute where the gaskets again pass through stops 'I'I in the form of pins and are then dropped into the recesses it of a rotating disc re. The recesses in the disc are timed or synchronized with the pinwheel I5 so that an aperture will pass each time a gasket is delivered. As the disc as moves around, the apertures I5 therein register with the aperture I6 (Fig. 17) in the plate It when a gasket-receiving element 9 has also registered aszitsg aq g-y 'br'e, asjustdesi ibedrand after'the-closure 6 has'been fed toa'head 1, it--becomes necessary toassemble'the'ca-p and the gasket. These-operationsare illustrated more'particularly in Figs. 6

to 12. Fig;6-illustratestheposition of the head 1 and the ga'sket--in'serting mechanism just as the cap is seated in the head.-- Fig. '7 showsthe posi- 'tion of the 'head and gasket-inserting mechanism at the station where the gasket 8 has been dropped overthe projection 9. At this point the --y-cam-' rider I06 has engaged cam IBB and-raised the member 9 in position to receivea gasket and ---guide it down to it s-seat.- In-Fig.-8=the-gasket is showniullyseated} At-this point, as well as in the preceding-figure, the outside sleeve-has been moved up totelescope-about the gasket 50 that the-gasketwhen'seated will be supported on three sides. At this point also a vacuum has been applied throughtheconduit III to draw the gasket down on its seat and hold it firmly in position. I Thereafter the head l begins to move downwardly toward the gasket-inserting mechanism, as shown in Fig. 9, and likewise the-cam roller Itfi engages the declined portion of the carn I68 to lower the sleeve 90 and also the-gasket guide 9. The spring fingers, retaining the gasket as shown in Fig. 9, pass through the constricted portion I4 directly below the "closure in the cap head which constricts the gasket and also the spring fingers until the-gasket aligns itself with the skirt of the cap "and is forced outwardly by the spring fingers. The vacuum continues to hold the gasket in position: and also holds the cap in position on the head. The head is then raised, as shown in Fig. 11, until it reaches its upper position, asshown inhotted lines in-Fi 11. g I The operations just described will insert a gasket into a closure having a head or an inturned edge which supports the gasket. In some cases it is desirable to turn in the lower edge of the closure to lock the gasket in position-and to cover the raw edge of the metal at the bottom of the cap -to"prevent-rustingl' Ihis may be done by adding an anvil or pressure member 35, as

illustrated in Fig. 3 likewise mounted on the a'esm 37: When the gasket has been inserted in the closure, as shown in Fig. 10, theanvil comes sown on the closure as shown in Fig. 3, and a "pressure member 39, which may be resiliently fmo unted, engages the cam roller on the top of the anvil to give a bumpingactionwhich forces the bottom of the skirt of the cap against the annulargroove 5 (Fig. 5) on the gasket seat to-turn in r,

'-the edge of the cap and "lock thegasketiriposition.

In either event; the'closure cap with the "gasket assembled, with or without the interlocking action, continues to move-with the rotating-table until it reaches the cap-removing' "device 115 at the cap-'removingstation Ci(Fig-. 2)- whereupon -the 'vacuumacup I21 -(Fig s. =13 and'1'4) on the end of one of" the 'armsi 1 8-: registerswith the head Afterthe-gasketshavebeenied to the-'memods 3"I and moved upwardly and downwardly by directly above the clos'ure' and==draws theblosure oh its seat and transiers'it-to moan-inverter I26 (Fig. 2-) =where* the -closureisdropped down on 1 one sideof the inverter as shown Fig. 2A -and 5 is inverted-when it contacts the-other'side in passifl ing out through the opening inthe bOttOIIla- ='-1hus the clos'ures are :delivered to the-conveyor II4 bottomside up, to f acilitateinspection.

1 I'he invention'also contemplates the automatic lo deedingpf gaskets to the chute 20 at arate" corresponding to the rate of use by the inserting machine; The mechanism-- forthispurpose is illustrated more particularly ineFigss 20- to 2'7. Referring toiFig'. 20, a plurality of -spindles are 'mounted onthe rotatable-disc I 30- which is held in a series of predetermined positions by the spring press pin-I31 sothatthe-lowei spindle is 1 in registry-with-theupperend of thechute 20. "These -spindles-*arefilled'with gaskets, side by side;-'-and=a sleeve I37 at the-fixed-end otg-each spindle --is-adapted to force the gasketsoft the spindle so that they drop into the chute 20 one at atime.

In order to move'the' sleeve I3! ate-prede- 2 =termined-speed; a motor- I44, through the inter- -;='mediation of -a reduction gear--I4tawdrives a threaded shaft I42 in sengagement =with-;a--cross member I 40-slidably mounted Joy a--sleeve- I39 on shaft- I38. The cross member Mdengagesback of-the sleeve I 3'I'and slidesit-alonga-spindle I34.

When the sleeve I 39 carrying-- thecross -memberreaches the end of its-movement, itengages a--valve trip which sends air to one-end of the control valve I55. Thereupon-the;controliralve directs air from the pressure --line-- I 55 through pipe I 5 2-and branc h pipe l5 2a tip-cause the air 7 cylinder I50 to rnove the pin-ISL outwardlyinto engagement with the arm of the counterweight I45 which-raises thecross arr'n 'l it and causes the-arni (36 to drop onto the=c0nveyor I4Tf The conveyor I4! is driven by a' motordfii and the -lug's"I49 thereon return the-sleeve I39fan'd the cross arm to the opposite end of the's ha ft 38 Y whereupon it operates a second trip'valvwhich 3 deliversair to theopposite end of the-oontro1 valve" I54 whereupon air isdeliv'ered to the-pipe IBGan'd branchfpipdfafia to return thdplfl I5I 3 to itsorig'inal position and alsolto the pipe I581) I to delivefa'ir to --the 'oyl'ind'i" I B I and toreturn the fi'ppefend ofthe'chut 20 into. registry-with aspihdle' I9." "'Ih iipper' end of the chute is autematially' xnoved' 'awa'y from the spindle iiihe'rftl ieross arn'i I reaches the end of its ti ok'e sothat the'disciliill' may be rotated to eplaice tl'ispindl rromrwm'cn the gaskets have teen-removed with a spindl' filled with gaskets.

murder to'delivei the"gaskets to the chute 20 "at the'spee'dthey are'used'by the gasket-inserting ii iachine', apair of l'ctric' eyes' 22 "and 24 iFigli25') iis'provided' for controlling the motor IM'PfThe motor "has two"s'peeds', on'slightly greater "than thatireqhiretl to m'a'intain a su ly in the chute 22and the other slightlyless than ""thatrequired 'to' maintain asupply in the chute {it at: "-Whe'h'- thega's'kets' are b'elow 'the electric eye igjthe motor "isfswitche'd to its higher-speed "'-"i1nti1"th"supply'builds'up to: the l'evel of the electric eye 22 whereu onitis switched "to the lower speed; hence thersupply of gaskets is kept 7 intermediate the level of the two electric eyes.

' SuitabIe- 'ain jetS are utilizd fin-guiding the gaskets into th ohute and for assistin'gin keepng theinfmoving along 'the chute. -The upper end o f 'th'eohut'e, in adlititin to being movable -into and out 'ot allgmnetiti with"tl i ehute, has 

